The Screamer ... It's the talk of football: North East clubs in battle to sign Barnes

Middlesbrough and Newcastle will fight it out for Derby midfielder Giles Barnes.

Newcastle failed with a £2million bid for the 19-year-old in January, but could succeed this time because of Derby's relegation to the Championship and Barnes' current inactivity because of a knee operation.

Middlesbrough, whose defender Emanuel Pogatetz is set to extend his current deal beyond 2010, are preparing to lose Fabio Rochemback and want Barnes or Jimmy Bullard to replace him.

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given's season is over after groin surgery.

Meanwhile, Derby boss Paul Jewell has been told the club has already spent the first year of parachute payments which will be received after their relegation.

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Arsenal and Chelsea fear they could miss out on Villarreal's Uruguayan defender Martin Caceres after Real Madrid opened talks over a move.

Chelsea have bid £8million and Arsene Wenger is planning a summer move for the 21-year-old. But Real Madrid have tabled a £12m offer and hope to talk to the youngster this week.

Arsenal are also on the trail of Guimaraes' Algeria striker Kamel Ghilas.

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Former Tottenham boss Martin Jol is set to return to management this summer with AZ Alkmaar.

The Dutch club are expecting to lose current manager Louis van Gaal to Turkish side Galatasaray and are believed to have approached Jol, 52, about taking over. The Dutchman was sacked by Spurs in October after almost three years in charge at White Hart Lane.

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Jonny Evans is ready to complete a £4million permanent deal with Sunderland. Centre back Evans has been a success since moving on loan for the second time from Manchester United.

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Captain Paul Butler and midfielder Tony Dinning have been suspended by Chester over allegations they have tapped up two players for Scottish club Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The pair have been accused of trying to talk the unnamed Chester players into a summer move to Scotland.

Inverness boss Craig Brewster watched Chester on Saturday as he hunts new players.

Butler and Dinning have been accused of a 'serious breach of club discipline' and told by Chester boss Simon Davies they have no future at the club.

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Daniel Sturridge is a major doubt for Manchester City's FA Youth Cup Final decider with Chelsea on Wednesday night.

The 18-year-old striker whose goal earned City a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in the first leg, has had a scan on the knee injury he suffered during the first team's 2-1 win at Sunderland on Saturday.

Manager Sven Goran Eriksson will be in the expected 20,000 crowd at Eastlands as City look to lift the Youth Cup for the first time in 22 years.